Once in a lifetime meaning in English

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Definition

(a) once in a lifetime (trip): (a trip) which one will only be able to do once in one's entire life idiom
(You only meet Bruno Delavigne) once in a lifetime!: It is extremely rare or unusual (to meet Bruno Delavigne!) idiom

Examples

  • "Bruno : Once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?"
  • "You don't know me, and we've never done business together, but believe me, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
  • "Thank you ever so much for this once in a lifetime opportunity."
  • "Clients like Steffi are once in a lifetime, Quincy."
  • "I've already been burnt at least twice by once-in-a-lifetime opportunities."
  • "Thank you ever so much for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
Exercise 1
Fill in the blanks with terms from the dialogue you've just heard!

First, we're looking for the term describing the profession of buying and selling shares: "When I grow up, I want to be a ." (1 word)

Now, find the term which means "a profit resulting from an investment": "This year, Delavigne investors made a big on their money." (1 word)

This term describes something special or unique that happens extremely rarely. "Making love with an alien from the planet ZOGO was a experience." (4 words)

Fill in the blanks with terms from the dialogue you've just heard!

First, we're looking for the term describing the profession of buying and selling shares: "When I grow up, I want to be a [not done] stockbroker 1." (1 word)

Now, find the term which means "a profit resulting from an investment": "This year, Delavigne investors made a big [not done] return 2 on their money." (1 word)

This term describes something special or unique that happens extremely rarely. "Making love with an alien from the planet ZOGO was a [not done] once-in-a-lifetime 3 experience." (4 words)
1 stockbroker: "Stockbroker" is the right answer. A "stockbroker" is a professional agent for people who want to buy or sell stocks and shares on the financial market. In the dialogue, Bill tells us that he is a "stockbroker". Another example: "My husband left me for his stockbroker. They're very happy together, and rich".
2 return: "Return" is the best choice here. To "make a return (on an investment)" is to make a profit as a result of an action. Example: "I was right to buy shares in Pear Computers: I've made a 22% return on my money".
3 once-in-a-lifetime: The term "once-in-a-lifetime" is used to describe something special that is not likely to happen to you again. Example: Harold Warbuckle is planning a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the North Pole to hunt polar bears. In the conversation, Bill says that buying shares in the small company is a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity".
Exercise 2
"Clients like Steffi are once in a lifetime, Quincy."

Something that is "once in a lifetime" is:

"Clients like Steffi are once in a lifetime, Quincy."

Something that is "once in a lifetime" is:
This is the correct answer. Something that is "once in a lifetime" describes something "special" or "unique" that happens extremely rarely. Example: Jean Marron went on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to space. In the dialogue, Philip thinks that Steffi is a very special client because she has alerted him to a missing invoice.
This is incorrect. "Once in a lifetime" refers to something that happens very rarely, which is the opposite of being common.
This is incorrect. Something that is "once in a lifetime" has nothing to do with price.
This is incorrect. Something that is "once in a lifetime" has nothing to do with being "deadly". A "deadly (animal)" is one which is very dangerous.

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